Romanian President Shown Slapping 10-year-old Boy In Video

A video has emerged showing Traian Basescu, the center-right president of Romania, hitting a 10-year-old boy in the face during a campaign rally in 2004. He was confronted by footage of the incident during an interview on Thursday night. Initially, he didn't deny that the incident happened, instead asserting there must have been a "good reason" for the act.

"I can assure you that I will look at it and give you an explanation. But does the child say anything in the film? Did he say something nasty? ... Perhaps he swore at me."

Since then, however, Basescu has recanted that statement, saying the video had been manipulated. Notably, the boy in question, Bogdan Istrotaiu, now 15, initially agreed that Basescu had indeed hit him in 2004, when he was mayor of Bucharest and running for the presidency for the first time. A day later Istrotaiu retracted the claim, saying he didn't want to be part of the growing controversy.

The run-off election, scheduled for Dec. 6th, is hotly contested. Something like this could swing the election. However, if you watch the video carefully, after the boy is hit, he seems to be smiling. Could it have been a "playful" swat for some reason? Readers, what do you think?

Romania is where they filmed the scenes in the East Borat. This Romanian guy I work with are like Borat T, there are all these amazing stories about how everyone in her school smoked cigarettes toxic communist at the age of 10 and stuff. It&#39;s just a bit like that.

What is Mizozo?

Mizozo is a user generated content site which is in the process of a major shift in business. Originally a news site, Mizozo is now becoming the first truly transparent corporate entity. Not only will everything be laid out, but everyone will have a say in how things are run and get a cut of the revenue. Yes, Socialism.